Improvement in gas-seals



QUNITED STATEs PATENT OEEcEi ROBERT MAYcAEEALIQ, 0E ALTON, ENGLAND.

-`|wiP'Roi/EMENT IN GAS-SEALS, ac.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,504, dated November 11,1873; application filed September 8, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

-Be it known that I, ROBERT MAY GAEEALL, of Alton, in the county of Hants, England, have invented or discovered an Improved v Automatic Gas Seal or Valve, or Combined Gras-Seal and Puriiier or Carbureter; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, true, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the drawing hereunto annexedthat is to say:

The objects of this invention are, first, to prevent a back rushlof gas from gasometers, should an accident happen to any part of gasplant; second, to prevent gas rushing from one gasometer to another on the gas from one being withdrawn for lighting purposes; third, to purify coal-gas on its passage to the gasometer by causing it to come into contact with lime-water or other purifying agent within the apparatus; fourth, to increase the illuminating power of the gas by causing it to come into contact with a volatile or spirituous body within the apparatus on its way to the gasometer; and it consists in a poised bonnet or inverted cup arranged within a closed case and over the inlet to the same, its lower end dip* ping below the surface of the liquid therein, which, upon lthe inflow of gas, is raised, allowing the free passage of the gas through the case, but preventing its return, the case being supplied with tar-water when the apparatus is used as a seal or valve simply; but when it is desired to be used as a purifier at the same time, the apparatus is provided with lime-water or other purifying liquid, and when used as a carbureter a suitable volatile liquid is used instead, the gas becoming purified or carbureted by coming in contact with the liquid within the case, according to the nature of the same, while either liquid acts equally well for sealing the inlet, the apparatus acting to prevent the back ow oi' gas, as well as to purify or enrich the same in its passage through the apparatus.

The apparatus consists of a rectangularshaped box, A, attached to the pipe between the exhauster and gasometer by the anges B B, so that the gas in passing through in the direction of the arrows lifts the bonnet C into the position shown by dotted lines. The box A contains tar-water or other liquidup to a certain level, and the'bottom edge of the bonnet dips into the liquid when the ingoing pressure is removed, and also when a back pressure occurs from any cause. The level of the liquid is regulated by the siphon-leg D, whose outlet is at the necessary height from the bottom, the bend and depth of leg forming a liquid-joint against escape. The vessel is supplied with liquid bythe bent pipe E,

whose cap F can be removed when fresh liqy uid has to be poured in. The bonnet is connected by a rock-lever, G, with a counterpoise, H, on its opposite end, the lever being held by a rod stretching across the vessel for that purpose.

The gas, in entering from the exhauster, passes down a lead, J ,'into an open-ended outlet, K, which is covered by the bonnet C, but which can be lifted to the required height by the gas to allow 'it to pass. The gas then traverses along the vessel, and finds its way to the gasometer to be stored for use in the usual manner.

I have referred to the vessel as containing water or other liquid intended for sealing the passage against the back rush of gas, and to take the back strain ofi' from the exhauster; but by placing lime-water or other liquid containing a gas-purifying agent, the liquid would not only act as a water-joint, but also as a purifier. Again, by placing a volatile oil or a spirituous body within the vessel, the liquid would act as a seal when the bonnet is immersed in it, and also as a meansof increasing the illuminating power of the gas by absorbing the volatile vapor, or the spirituous agent contained within it or of which it is composed, as the case may be. A

The apparatus can also be fitted between the several gasometers of gas-works, to prevent the gas owing from one to theotlier, the apparatus working automatically.

I do not claim a hydraulic seal applied to the entire volume of gas at the entrance of a condenser, as such is not my invention.

Having now described the nature of my invention, I claim- 1. The poised bonnet C, arranged within the case A over the inlet K, its mouth arranged to dip below the surface of the liquid within the case when in repose, and yield to the inowing gas to allow its passage through the l In witness whercof,t11e said ROBERTYMAY case, but prevent its return, substantially as GAFFALL, have hereunto set my hand this first shown and described. day of August, one thousandeight hundred 2. In combination with an Yautoma-tic valve and seventy-three.

interposed between the exhauster and gasoin- ROBERT MAY CAFFALL.

eter, as described, a purifier created by sup Vitnesses:

plying lime or other liquid in the chamber in H. GARDNER,

which the seal operates, substantially as de- E. M. DANIEL,

scribed. 166 Fleet street, London. 

